Noordam: Signing for Brighton is a dream

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Deadline day signing looks ahead to making her mark in the WSL.

Heather Miller

2025-02-05T13:25+00:00

Nadine Noordam is excited to begin her career in the WSL. 📸 Paul Hazlewood

Nadine Noordam is delighted to be continuing her football adventure in England and to becoming the latest Dutchwoman to play for Albion in the WSL.

The 26-year-old joined us on transfer deadline day after making more than 130 appearances for Ajax, for whom she won the Dutch league titles and played in this season’s Champions League.

She is treading a well-worn path. Two of her new teammates, Marisa Olislagers and Marit Auee, signed for Albion last summer from FC Twente and going back a bit compatriots Inessa Kaagman, Danique Kerkdijk and Maxine Bennick played more than 100 games between them for the club before going back to Holland to continue their careers.

“I saw Mo (Olislagers) on the day I signed,” said Nadine. “We were very happy to see each other and I’m very happy that she's here at the club already and doing really well this season. I have known her a long time and I’m sure she will help me out and help me settle in.

“It’s the first time that I'm going to be living in another country so that could be a little tough to start with maybe. So, it will be nice to have Mo around and I can ask her other questions. But it’s a squad with a lot of about 20 nationalities which when I think about it is incredible, so I think I’m going to be alright settling in and getting to know my teammates.”

Nadine Noordam is the sixth Dutch player to sign for Albion. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Head coach Dario Vidosic believes Noordam will bring ‘mobility and quality’ to Albion’s midfield. “She has won titles with Ajax and played in the Champions League, so she is used to performing under pressure,” said Vidosic. “She’s coming to us at a good age and her profile is really good. We think she will bring a lot of mobility and quality to our midfield. Hopefully she will play a big part for the rest of the season and beyond.”

Noordam has spent the last four seasons with Ajax, playing regularly in the Eredivisie, but was ready for a new challenge in what she regards as the best domestic league in the world. “It was a long few days before everything was agreed so I was happy when it was all signed on Thursday,” she said. “ Now, I’m just excited to get going with the rest of the squad.

“I loved the culture from the first minute I came here to Brighton,” she said. “It was such a warm welcome and the people are so nice and I think that this is a good environment for me to improve and to grow as a player. And I’ll be playing in the WSL as well, which is arguably the best league in the world.”

Nadine describes herself as an energetic box-to-box midfielder, who can also contribute her fair share of goals. “I have lots of energy and I will give that energy to the team and I think the Brighton fans will see this on the field. At Ajax I think I grew as a player. We were champions and I played in the Champions League so it was an adventure and I had an amazing time there, but I was ready to make the step up to Brighton.

“The facilities at the training ground are great and I think they can help me grow as player. I can’t wait to get started and I do everything I can to improve as a player. It’s a new adventure for me, in a new city by the sea and I’m looking forward to seeing more of the area.”